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Woodworking Projects From "Today Show Tips" episode DTST-119

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A bright red picnic table would make any meal more fun for kids — especially if they helped build it.

A Picnic Table for Kids

Here's another project the kids can help build: a picnic table just for them. Making it a family project builds memories as well as a table. Here are some pointers to get you started:

• You don't need any power tools to build this little table. A hand saw, sandpaper and a drill will do the job just fine.

• Sand the table and seats to remove any potential splinters. If you plan to paint the picnic table, you'll need to make sure the surface is extra smooth. Don't forget to smooth over the edges, too.

• Think outside the rectangle for your picnic table. Consider making the table top an oval, for example.

• Use galvanized carriage bolts, nuts and washers for easy assembly — and easy disassembly. Use threaded rods with turnbuckles to give the table extra stability.

• If you plan to paint the table, choose a finish that will hold up against the elements: acrylic latex paint, oil-based paint or enamel.

• To keep the picnic table looking good for years, put it away during the winter. It's easy to take apart to save space in the garage or basement.

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Tung oil will create a color that's similar to mid-tone stains, such as the one on the left. An added bonus: Tung oil needs no protective finish.

The Science of Stains

Learn some basic techniques and some special tricks for staining wood.

• Stains are available in more colors than just shades of brown. Aniline dyes are
  very popular, for example; they're available in a rainbow of colors. Because they are chemical pigments suspended in a benzene solution, though, they are dangerous to work with. Always wear gloves and a good respirator, and work outdoors or in a room with excellent ventilation.

• Before you start staining, prepare the wood by sanding with 280-grit sandpaper and wiping it with a tack cloth. Between coats of stain, use 000 steel wool to get rid of any bubbles. And keep that tack cloth handy to wipe off any dust.

• Apply dark stains, such as mahogany, in very thin coats. It's easy to make the wood too dark if you're heavy-handed with the stain. If you're actually using mahogany stain on mahogany, make sure you work it into the grain of the wood.

• If you're working on fine cabinetry, you may want to try a badger brush, made with badger bristles.

• Once you've stained your project, you need to provide a finish coat. Urethane works well for items that will be used indoors. It's available in gloss and semi-gloss finishes. For outdoors, though, use a spar finish, which will hold up even in a marine environment. Apply two coats of the finish, always with the grain of the wood.

• While most stains require a finish coat, there are two-in-one products that combine stain and polyurethane. Use a thick brush with these products, and as always, work with the grain of the wood.

• Tung oil is a natural product that will provide an effect similar to stain. It penetrates the wood and enriches it by bringing out the grain. Two applications of tung oil is all the protection the wood needs, especially if it will be indoors; you don't have to follow up with urethane or polyurethane.
  
  
  

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  	Woodworking Projects